Entries for month: May 2011

During the week of May 22, IdahoPTV premiered two new programs. Color of Conscience and a a special Dialogue follow-up. The new, hour-long documentary Color of Conscience, produced by Marcia Franklin and directed by Jay Krajic, explores the story of a group of activists in northern Idaho who mobilized to oppose the Aryan Nations, a white supremacist/neo-Nazi group that set up a compound near Hayden, Idaho, in the 1970s. Using archival footage dating back 25 years, as well as interviews with human rights leaders, victims of prejudice and hate crimes, and a former neo-Nazi skinhead, Franklin looks not only at the history of Idaho’s modern human rights movement, but also at challenges that still lie ahead.

Major funding for this effort was provided by: the Idaho National Laboratory, The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, the Idaho Women's Charitable Foundation and the Idaho Public Television Endowment. Additional funding was provided by Anne S. Voilleque and Louise S. Nelson, The Ralph and Mary Lynn Hartwell Family Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation, the Whittenberger Foundation, Chuck Prince and the Idaho-Nevada Community Development Financial Institution Inc., Tom and Eve Chandler, Jane Pritchett, the Ada County Human Rights Task Force and Chef Bill Green & Focaccia's Restaurant and Catering.

On Friday, I posted my monthly GM Report outlining some of the exciting initiatives that IdahoPTV is engaged with. Of note: the Edward R. Murrow Award for Outdoor Idaho’s documentary look at “Wilderness in the 21st Century;” an update on our struggle to find funds totaling $121,000 for upgrading our statewide system for a new, unfunded federal mandate regarding Emergency Alert System announcements; “Color of Conscience” that looks at the human rights struggle in Idaho produced by Marcia Franklin; and directed by Jay Krajic, and IdahoPTV’s 2011 PBS Kids Go Writers Contest winners.

You can also now access past GM Reports using the new 2 D Barcode system that many cell phones systems now offer. Check them out!

Keep your eyes open for an IdahoPTV June 30 fiscal year end membership campaign announcement at www.idahostatesman.com . We appreciate the Idaho Statesman’s support toward this important effort! Getting the word out about our fiscal year end membership campaign is essential to achieving our overall goal in these challenging economic times.

I’m proud to let you all know that Outdoor Idaho has been awarded a prestigious regional Edward R. Murrow award for Wilderness in the 21st Century.

The Radio Television News Digital News Association made the announcement in April that Outdoor Idaho’s production of Wilderness in the 21st Century (October 2010) received a Murrow award in the Video News Documentary Category.

By the way, IdahoPTV the only public television station in the northwest (Washington, Oregon, Montana and Alaska) to receive a Murrow award this year, and only one of two public television stations nationwide to be honored in regional distinctions.